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"The Doughboy", a bronze World War I uniformed soldier holding a flag on a 12-foot tall granite pedestal, was sculpted by Humberto J. Pedretti and dedicated on July 4, 1924 to honor all WWI veterans.  At the top of the pedestal are two bands of stars, at the bottom a bronze eagle, on the back a bronze medal, and on the front a bronze olive branch and helmet. Originally the monument stood at the northwest corner of Pershing Square as a gateway piece for the park. After the Pershing Square garage was constructed in the 1950s, The Doughboy was transferred to the southeast corner. In 1963 the statue was moved to the park's center, where it remained until it was relocated to the Palm Court when Pershing Square was redesigned in 1994.

The inscription reads:

"Dedicated to the sons and daughters of Los Angeles who participated in World War, 1917-1918".  

Named in memory of PVT William C.N. Boylen CD.L 101st Infantry 26th DIV A.E.F. killed at vaux. Chateau thierry second battle of the marine July 20, 1918

First Melrose man with the American Forces killed in action in the World War

INSCRIPTION: (front granite) State of Maine, To Her Sailors and Soldiers; (front bottom of bronze plaque) Lord God of Hosts Be With Us Yet, Lest We Forget, Lest We Forget

The engraving on the front of the tall granite base reads:

ERECTED IN HONOR OF

THOSE WHO WENT FROM

BERRIEN COUNTY

TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY IN THE

WORLD WAR

1917-1919

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LEST WE FORGET

An engraving on the Doughboy’s left side reads:

HONOR ROLL

OTRANTO VICTIMS

(followed by a list of 25 county soldiers lost when the troop ship Otranto sank off the coast of Scotland following an October 1918 collision with the Kashmir during a storm.)

An engraving on the Doughboy’s right side reads:

HONOR ROLL

DIED FROM OTHER CAUSES

(followed by a list of 25 names)